Exhibitions

Vive la différence! The English and French stereotype in satirical prints 1720-1815

The fluctuating political climate of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries had particular significance for the portrayal of French and English national stereotypes in satire and caricature. The time frame, encompassing the Seven Years’ War and the events of the French Revolution, also reveals the major changes within English graphic satire itself, with prints produced by such artists as William Hogarth, Henry Bunbury and James Gillray. Across the Channel the French satirists of the early 1800s show an awareness of the work of their English counterparts but embrace a very different style. This exhibition highlights the appeal of this ancient rivalry for contemporary audiences and gives an insight into each country’s history, preoccupations, and humour.